By admin

Road Closure – Church Street

In the 8th June 2023 newsletter I included the following:
“In an effort to improve safety for pedestrians and our school children the TDC has designed some street modifications. School management and the Board have been in discussions with the TDC about the dangers of vehicles travelling the wrong way down Church St (against the law). Our main concern is around our children crossing the street to the back field. The back field belongs to Richmond School (yes it is very strange we have a street through the centre of our school).”

On average, 35.4 cars a day have been travelling down the ‘One way’ part of Church Street even though the signs clearly state ‘No Entry’. Our student’s safety is paramount.

So what is happening?
• The one-way part of Church Street behind the library will be closed from 8:00am – 4:00pm on school days (as per the sign – photo attached). We can vary this to suit the school (such as 8:30am in the mornings).
• 5 movable yellow bollards will be in place for a trial 12-month period at the crossing by the main PE shed/bike enclosure entrance (refer to the photo attached).
• The parking in the one-way part of Church Street behind the library is now designated as ‘Staff parking’ from 8:00am – 4:00pm on school days (as per the sign – photo attached).
• Please abide by the new roading conditions.
• My advice is for parents to park on Waverley Street and walk along Church Lane to school – a lovely 100 metre stroll.
• Only 34 cars are permitted in the Church carpark. We need to abide by this otherwise the church will not allow us to use their carpark. Please don’t park on the grass or yellow lines.
• Please don’t park or wait on yellow lines around the school – that’s illegal.
• We have a few parents starting to park in our staff carpark off Oxford Street – please don’t as it creates an issue at the entrance way (a single driveway) and often means there aren’t carparks for our support staff who usually start work at 9:00am.

By admin

Swimming Lessons 2023 – Permission Slips

Swimming lessons are coming up for the whole school at the Aquatic Centre. Please return the permission slip for your child as soon as possible to the class teacher. There is no charge to parents again this year.

Juniors: Term 2 Week 10 & Term 3 Week 1 (26/6/23 until 30/6/23 and 17/7/23 until 31/7/23)

Seniors (except Room 3): Term 3 Weeks 2 and 3 (24/7/23 until 4/8/23)

Middles (plus Room 3): Term 3 Weeks 4 and 5 (7/8/23 until 18/8/23)

By admin

Senior School Production “Porridge”

Tickets are on sale at the school office for the senior production “Porridge” at the Hope Community Church Hall, Ranzau Road.

Wed 21st June 7pm
Thurs 22nd June 12pm
Thurs 22nd June 7pm

Adults $20
Seniors $10
Students/Children $15
Family (2A 2C) $60

By admin

Possible Strike Action

Tēnā koutou

No doubt you will have heard via the media or social media that teachers and principals throughout NZ MAY BE ON STRIKE next Wednesday – 31st May 2023.

The teachers’ and principals’ union (the NZEI), has advised school Boards and managements nation-wide that their members voted 2 days ago to go ahead with a one-day strike on Wednesday 31st May and a ban on meetings outside of 8.30am-4.30pm from 1st – 30th June 2023.

Due to a process initiated by the Minister of Education (on Tuesday 22nd May 2023) with the NZEI Te Riu Roa to progress collective agreement negotiations, any decision on moving forward with these industrial actions has been paused by the NZEI Te Riu Roa National Executive, for now.

HOWEVER, strike action may still take place on 31st May 2023 if the NZEI National Executive and the negotiations team feel insufficient progress has been made over the next few days through the new process agreed with the Minister of Education.

If action does go ahead on Wednesday 31st May, strike notices and information about local community actions will go out on Sunday 28th May. We will have insufficient numbers of non-union teachers to keep the school open so the school will need to close on the day.

This is all very disappointing from my point-of-view as the CEO of the school and the impact this may have once again on children’s learning. I will notify parents as soon as I receive an update from either or both parties involved in the negotiations.

Regards
Tim

TIM BRENTON
Principal

Richmond School
14 Cambridge Street
Richmond
NELSON